Professor Takahide Sakagami (Mechanical Engineering) of the Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University and Honshu-Shikoku Expressway Company (President Shuji Mihara, Kobe City) measured the surface temperature of steel bridge welds from a distance with an infrared camera and cracked. We have developed a new technology to detect.The technology has already reached the practical level, and it is likely to be effective in reducing the cost required for bridge maintenance and improving the level of infrastructure management.
Actually, the welded part directly under the viaduct driving lane of the Honshu-Shikoku Expressway was photographed with an infrared camera for about 10 km.We succeeded in detecting a crack with a length of 40 mm, which was not visually confirmed, and confirmed that the method developed this time is useful.In the future, we plan to develop self-propelled measuring devices and automatic crack detection devices in order to increase versatility.
Until now, the general inspection method was to visually detect paint cracks and rust, and if the presence of cracks was suspected, remove the paint and perform flaw detection using magnetic powder. Badness and high cost were problems.
The Honshu-Shikoku Expressway has been 18 to 31 years since the opening of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, Onaruto Bridge, Setoo Bridge, and other long bridges, and the importance of maintenance and inspection is increasing, so there are great expectations for the practical application of new technology. I'm calling.
Professor Sakagami said, "The developed inspection system surpasses the current inspection method in terms of reliability, accuracy, efficiency, and cost. It will enable early detection of fatigue cracks and will change the maintenance system." I'm talking.
* U-shaped elongated reinforcing plate attached to prevent deformation of U-rib members
